Fires in France, Macron announces: our EU partners help

"Germany, Greece, Poland, and in the next few hours Romania and Austria:

to cope with the fires. Thank you. European solidarity is at work".

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote it on Twitter.

"For the people evacuated from the burning areas it is a time of waiting and worry. Saving all lives, saving all that can be saved, then rebuilding: no one will be forgotten," he added. 

"Across the country, more than 10,000 firefighters and civilian security personnel are mobilized against the flames. With courage and determination, they resist. These firefighters are our heroes," Macron wrote.

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

 "The EU is closely monitoring the situation" in Europe "and is ready to send aid".

This was underlined by the spokeswoman of the EU Commission Miriam Garcia Ferrer explaining that, at the request of Paris, Brussels has decided to

rescEU firefighting fleet to Greece and Sweden.

In addition, fire brigade teams from Germany, Poland, Austria and Romania are on the way to support the French first responders.

FIRE ALSO IN THE JURA

Two forest fires

in the southern Jura, one of which was still active this morning.

This was announced by the prefecture.

Eighty firefighters and 24 fire engines are working to control the fire that has been active since Tuesday in Vescles and continues to spread north after burning 170 hectares, the prefecture said.

A water bombardment helicopter is expected in Maine-et-Loire, where the two main fires that devastated more than 1,500 hectares were started.

The intervention of the helicopter should facilitate ground operations against the fire, which is spreading in an inaccessible area where relief efforts are struggling to progress.

Since 1 August, the Jura has been classified at the maximum level of drought.

In the Vosges, the fire that burned 30 hectares of forest between the municipalities of Mortagne and Brouvelieures is now extinguished.